Here are the best and worst performing stocks of this tough and volatile year for the market

2018 is coming to a close on Monday, ending a tough year for stock pickers. Many of the year’s big winners took a beating in the final quarter of the year.

The S&P 500 is set to end the year down nearly 6 percent. Stocks lost much of this year’s gains beginning in early October before accelerating this month, in what is likely to be the worst December performance for the S&P 500 since 1931.

Here’s where the best and worst S&P 500 stocks were before the final day of trading this year. Stocks are ranked by year to date performance, with quarter to date performance included for context on the recent widespread sell-off.

Advanced Micro Devices ripped higher by more than 85 percent until mid-September, peaking at $34.14 a share. AMD was riding high on gains in the computer chip market until the company gave a weaker-than-expected outlook for the fourth quarter of this year.

TripAdvisor and Red Hat were the only two 2018 winners to also buck the recent trend, gaining 4.9 percent and 28.1 percent this quarter, respectively. TripAdvisor reported consistently improving earnings throughout the year, boosted by its growing non-hotel business. IBM announced plans in October to acquire Red Hat in cash at $190 a share, a 60 percent premium from Red Hat’s stock price when the deal was revealed.

Cosmetics giant Coty is on pace to be this year’s worst performer, cratering more than 67 percent. The stock has sold off nearly ever month of 2018. Coty replaced both its chief executive and chairman in November, as the company has struggled to fine benefit from the 41 brands it acquired from Procter & Gamble in 2016.

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